BRUSSELS (AP) — Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is expected to miss Belgium's upcoming World Cup qualifiers because of a muscle injury.

Madrid said in a statement on Monday the 33-year-old Courtois has been diagnosed with an injury “to the long abductor muscle in his right leg" after undergoing medical tests with the club. The Spanish league side did not specify how long he will be sidelined, saying only that “his recovery will be assessed.”

The Belgian federation has yet to comment on the announcement. Belgium is already missing Kevin De Bruyne , who has a severe lesion to his thigh muscle and is out for several months.

Belgium currently tops Group J ahead of North Macedonia and Wales. It faces Kazakhstan in Astana on Saturday before hosting Liechtenstein in Liège on Nov. 18.

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